​The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, together with the Hong Kong Film Development Council (FDC), led an industry delegation to participate in the 28th Far East Film Festival (FEFF) in Udine, Italy, held from April 24 to May 2 (Udine time). The delegation witnessed Hong Kong's veteran director and acclaimed action choreographer Yuen Woo-ping receiving the FEFF's Golden Mulberry Award for Lifetime Achievement; and Hong Kong directors Kwok Ka-Hei and Jack Lee for winning the White Mulberry for First Time Director with "Unidentified Murder".

     Assistant Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries and the Secretary-General of the FDC, Mr Gary Mak, and the Chairman of the FDC, Dr Wilfred Wong, attended the closing ceremony of the FEFF in the evening on May 2 (Udine time), at which Yuen received the Lifetime Achievement Award. They extended congratulations and expressed gratitude for his profound contributions to the Hong Kong and the global action cinema. Yuen began his career as a martial arts choreographer in Hong Kong films since the early 1970s, and has since directed more than 30 local and non-local films. Films he choreographed include "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", "The Matrix" series and the "Kill Bill" series, cementing the international stature of Hong Kong action films. His latest directorial work, "Blades of the Guardians", has further set a new global box office record for the Chinese martial arts film genre.

     As a key platform for promoting Asian cinema to European audiences, the FEFF has been attracting strong attention from the international film industry and the cultural sector. Riding on the FEFF, CCIDA and the FDC, together with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels, organised the Hong Kong Night networking reception on April 29 (Udine time). CCIDA and the FDC also presented "Making Waves - Navigators of Hong Kong Cinema" programme, to showcase Hong Kong's latest and classic films and have several Hong Kong emerging directors attended post-screening meet-and-greet sessions to engage with local audiences.

     In addition, CCIDA and the FDC collaborated with the FEFF's programme FOCUS ASIA to organise HONG KONG LAB@FOCUS ASIA, inviting senior international film professionals to share their experiences in co-production, cross-border financing and international distribution with potential Hong Kong producers and directors. Business matching sessions were also arranged to support Hong Kong filmmakers in exploring international collaboration opportunities.

Ends/Sunday, May 3, 2026
Issued at HKT 13:45

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